Returned exiles are facing huge insurance costs

BY KIERAN O’MAHONY

THE issue of sky-high car insurance costs for young emigrants returning home was raised at a meeting of Cork County Council this week. 

Cllr Noel Collins (Ind)  put down a motion to the meeting regarding what he described as ‘sky high’ car cover costs.

He called on insurance companies to stop treating our returning emigrants ‘as a cash cow’.

‘We must make sure that returning emigrants can get insurance and some of them are being treated as first time buyers despite having insurance policies in countries like Australia,’ said Cllr Collins.

‘Some drivers are then being quoted ten times the average cost while others are being told their no-claims-bonuses are invalid,’ he added. 

‘It’s not impossible to check the driver history of returned emigrants in countries like Australia.’

Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) said that these emigrants are important to the economy and that it’s also important that they can get insurance cover or else it could lead to them driving without insurance.

Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) said the reason these returned emigrants are being penalised is because of the astronomical claims being taken in the courts at the moment.

Court pay-outs were described as ‘daft’ by Cllr Murphy, who added: ‘Insurance companies are only here to make a profit and something has to give. We, as a country, have to introduce legislation and stall these huge payouts,’ said Cllr Murphy.

Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) said it’s not only returned emigrants who are facing crippling motor insurance costs as he himself saw a huge increase in his premium.

‘It’s ridiculous that insurance companies are getting away with murder and something has to be done,’ said Cllr Collins.